The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: nash1nash on February 14, 2013, 05:23:10 am
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hello,
I have a bunch of wheat (probably a thousand pounds) with some peas mixed in that was given to me by a neighbor farmer because it got a little wet and developed a little mold. I've been feeding this to my chickens all winter. Does anyone know of any reason why I shouldn't mix this in with my regular pig feed?
Thanks for your advice.
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Whole grain will pass straight through them without being digested, so they won't get any sort of feed value from it and if it's mouldy you run the risk of your pigs getting ill - there were a few cases of pigs dying after eating mouldy pig food a couple of years ago. Not worth the risk in my opinion, especially if you have to end up paying vets bills or losing any of your stock.
But others will maybe disagree with me ?
Karen
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as HH says whole wheat will pass straight through so will not benefit your pigs / kivestock mouldy feed is a big no no not worth risking animals health to save a few pounds .
we were ofered some damp wheat last year which we turned down to only person that was willing to feed to his stock was a guy that breeds geese.
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If you get if for free take in then sell to someone who keeps ducks or game, don't forget my commission cut :farmer:
Don't bother giving to pigs though
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Personally I wouldn't feed mouldy grain to anything, including the chickens. But that's just me :-\
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Never feed anything that has gone mouldy.
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Mycotoxins found in moulds have the potential to cause food poisoning. Pigs probably aren't as susceptible as humans but it can't be good for them.
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Thanks for the info everyone!
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feeding whole grain...what do you think pigs do in the wild? No one out there to crush their grain for them so they eat the grain whole and come back later and eat it again. The digestive juices have softened the grain to allow the pig to gain all the benefit out of it.
For all of you with soft tummies am sorry but that is how it works in nature.
Even if it is mouldy they will still consume it not once but twice.
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Depends how much you're feeding them. A lot of whole grain can cause a young pig to prolapse its anus. I know a breeder who inadvertently fed her sows mouldy pellets (they looked OK but she was a heavy smoker and couldn't smell the mould). When the vet came in to investigate why her sows had either tiny litters or were barren, he did. The feed company replaced the feed and gave her compensation but it didn't make up for all the work involved in keeping non-productive sows for the best part of a year.
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We soak it and sprout it for our piggies. It raises the protein level and makes it more digestible. They love it. If anyone knows any reason not to do that please let me know!